Josephine Brown, 95
Josephine Brown, 95, of Brandon, passed away on Sunday, March 21, 2021, at Bethany Home in Brandon, S.D.
Josephine Mary Grace was born on April 5, 1925 in Garretson, S.D., to Fred and Josephine (Heidl) Grace. She was raised in the Garretson area on a farm where she received her education and graduated from high school. Jo was raised on a farm and thrived on hard work. Whether in the dairy barn milking cows, working in the beanfields pulling weeds, cooking for large groups of people or spending hours in her yard picking up sticks and mowing the grass, she enjoyed it all.
Josephine was united in marriage with Howard Brown Sr. on July 25, 1946, in Sioux Falls, S.D. Jo worked in the kitchen with Brandon Valley Schools for over 20 years. She cherished time spent with her coffee ladies’ group, Town and Country Club, and the VFW Auxiliary.
Above all else in her life, was her love for her family and friends. Jo provided many opportunities for her children that would build character, create memories, and ensure the bond of family. She enjoyed entertaining her friends and family with many delicious cakes, bars, treats, and meals. Her Christian faith was a great comfort to her in challenging times. She was a charter member of Risen Savior Catholic Church.
To know Jo was to love her. With her giving spirit, outgoing personality, love of life and laughter, she brightened everyone’s day.
Left to cherish her memory and feeling blessed for having Josephine as their mother are her children, Thomas H. Brown, Brandon, John (Paula) Brown, Brandon, Connie (Bill) Hay, Colman, S.D., Howard (Nancy) Brown Jr., Brandon, Pam (Dean) Rippentrop, Sioux Falls, and Charles (Carol) Brown, Brandon; 11 grandchildren, Joey (Sonya) Brown, Tammy Brown-Stayee (Jim Stayee), Angela (Dennis) Johnson, JoLynn (Jim) Harris, Bryan Brown, Brittany Brown, Andrea (Nathan) Gerritsen, Sheena (A.C.) Fischer, Justin Rippentrop, Katie (Jimmy Liesinger) Rippentrop, Cody Brown; 12 great-grandchildren; and many other relatives and friends.
Josephine was preceded in death by her husband Howard; parents, Fred and Josephine Grace; father- and mother-in-law, Ira and Lucy Brown; sisters Katherine Nelson and Lorraine Derrick; brother, Francis Grace; and grandson, Michael T. Brown.
In lieu of flowers the family requests that memorials be directed to the Brandon Valley School Angel Fund, the Brandon Historical Society or the Brandon VFW.
Visitation with the family present will be from 5 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, March 25, 2021, at Risen Savior Catholic Church, 301 N. Splitrock Blvd., Brandon. A Funeral Mass will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday, March 26, 2021 at Risen Savior Catholic Church with burial at Woodlawn Cemetery. It will be live-streamed at risensaviorbrandon.com.
For online condolences, visit millerfh.com.
